TIPS FOR TODAY
Progress comes from momentum, not mastery.
If today’s challenge feels awkward or slow, that’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel. This isn’t a “nail it in one day” test — it’s your first pass at a new motion. Your hands will keep improving every time you come across a similar skill.
Even 10 focused minutes is enough to count today as a win. Our goal is NOT to perfect it. It’s to get exposure to a new skill.
Just get the motion under your fingers a few times at your own pace, and trust that next time you try a skill like this, it will feel a little smoother.
YOUR SAMPLE WEEK OF TONY'S ACOUSTIC CHALLENGE
5-Day "Stop Dabbling, Start Playing Guitar" Challenge
- MON: Technique
- TUE: Lick
- WED: Improv
- THU: Rhythm
- FRI: Transitions
FREE WHEN YOU JOIN TODAY
30 DAY JUMPSTART
All new members start with our 30-day jumpstart to learn the basics. It comes free with your membership when you join today.
3-Steps to Stop Dabbling and Start Playing
Try the Free 5-Day Challenge
Get a feel for the TAC method and see what 10 minutes a day can do.
Join TAC and Build Your Foundation
Start the 30-Day Jumpstart Challenge (included when you join) to lock in the basics and build a daily habit.
Keep Going with Daily Challenges
After the 30-Day Jumpstart, keep improving—one fun, daily guitar session at a time.
I lost most of my vision in brain surgery a year ago. I grew up in music as a horn player and Latin percussionist. My dad was the strings guy so I just left that to him. Now that I am in my late 40s and can’t see o figure guitar is a good way to work my hands and keep my brain active when I’m not hiking. So far so good. Doing most of this by ear. Your description are great to help me get where I need to be on the strings. I look forward to moving on.
good
I originally took drum lessons and played for years, but with guitar I just kept messing with it over the years playing whatever i felt like… with no real purpose but to see what I could make up. Over the last few years I’ve been working off/on on trying to understand the keys, fret notes, scales and all that, but always seemed like i was missing some magic secret to put it all together in my head. So that is where I’m at.
I’ve been doing lessons for about a year, learning parts of songs and doing ok but I can’t yet play a whole song and don’t really understand where I’m going. Or how I’m going to get there.
Have been quasi dabbling for too many years. Played in a cover band many years ago. Need a refresh and skills upgrade. You have good technique on guitar and communication and held my attention so far so looking forward to seeing how this week progresses. Thanks!
Been noodling for about 2years and don’t seem to be advancing.
Bit tricky to start with but I’m getting there.
I love the blues.
Hey! I’m a dabbler looking to further my skills. I started playing the guitar in 11th grade and mostly learned songs by ear, dissecting their parts. Got into a few tab books, I was in two bands within the first five years, used to make my own songs, then kinda stopped. I’ve been in a rut for well over a decade now. I think of a few licks or lyrics, but haven’t put them to paper in a while. I’d love to work on jamming, finding the right key, soloing, getting more comfortable with the fretboard, and generally understanding what is possible with the guitar.
I saw your video and got hooked. Eager to learn in bite-sized pieces and relearn how to play more than my usual. I’m glad I’m in good company!
First time picking up a guitar since 2nd grade, eager to see if I can get the hang of it this time around!
brand new..wow this seems like alot.
Looking forward to this though!
I am starting from zero and even this is to advanced!
Took a few lessons a few years ago and frustrated with zero understanding of what to work on etc.
I’m 72.5 years old, love music and would like to be able to learn some basic cords etc.
I’m a lefty with a right handed Strat. Hardest so far is getting fingers to be on the strings correctly so I can hear the A string on the up movement, the finger on the E string seems to be dulling it.
I’ll keep at it, not ready for day two for awhile until I get the fret work down.
Hoping to review Day 1 a few days before going onto Day 2??
Thanks, remain safe and happy.
Well that was some difficult stuff. I stuck with it though and it’s slow but did sound like what you were doing. I’ve just picked up the guitar with the intention of trying to learn a few/couple songs. I’m trying out a few of the options available to see what works for me.
played guitar in grade school and high school, joined military and after I got out, I didn’t get back into it for many years. couple years ago, I started trying to learn again. however, I have been self-teaching myself again and with arthritis it’s been a task to get my fingers moving right. this first lesson has really helped me to get my fingers going again. it is what I was looking for and am glad I found this challenge.
I’ve been learning for about 2 years. Have taken a class and learning to play in an ensemble, but I’m not progressing as fast as I thought I might. Although I didn’t even know how to read music before. I like your style and look forward to learning more.
essentially starting over after months of frustration that I didn’t feel as if I was learning anything or progressing. Never dabbled in technique before, so this is brand new.
I took lessons for a couple of years in my 40s, but gave up due to a busy life and sore fingers. I got a better guitar and have been strumming regularly and playing with others for about 6 years. I’m trying to improve and learn new techniques. My learning is slower than when I was younger and memory is an issue at age 67. New songs & techniques take a lot of repetition to internalize. Lesson 1 is an interesting and challenging exercise for my stiff hands and memory. It took me more than 10 minutes just to comprehend the instructions for the first 2 measures, which I captured in 8 steps, 1&, 2&, 3rest, 4&. 1) Middle finger 4th fret low E -down, &) Ring finger 5th fret hammer on low E, 2) Ring finger 5th fret down on low E, &) up on open A, 3) Ring finger 5th fret down on low E, &) rest for 1/4 note, 4) Ring finger 5th fret down on low E, &) up on open A. On the lower strings, my fingers aren’t yet agile enough for an audible “hammer down”. A small win – After multiple repetitions, I got a little sound from my hammer down. My hammer down works (albeit quietly) on the higher strings. I’ll see how the next lessons go. Thanks
I started learning in 1993 and was active with guitar until around 2011-2012. Interesting how I remember bar chords, etc. but striving to be more fluent in picking, soloing, etc.
Thanks,
Spent years with lessons and did not get anywhere. Ended lessons 20 years ago and kind of gave up. Hope this works and can get beck to actually playing rather then doing drills-scales etc.
This is my first time trying to play the guitar. I’m 65 and having trouble getting the hands to move to reach the correct placement. The challenge was fun, though! I had to play the video about ten times to figure out what a hammer was – haha.
I started learning at 55 and I’m now 68. I’ve made progress but keep hitting lengthy plateaus with no apparent improvement. I don’t feel like I find ways to expand new skills and doubt that my practice routine is optimal: mainly practicing the same 6-8 songs over and over.
Tony i’ve been playing for years mostly rythm and some picking. i look forward to working with you and your challenge. it loos pretty helpful.
Hi Tony, I can see that your method would work for the “dabblers” as you call them. I’m an absolute beginner, but even with 5 times 10 minutes per day, I was not able to play the first day challenge within a week. I need to develop the skill / feeling / muscle memory on where the strings are. And that ‘s practice. I don’t mind practicing, as only by practice you can increase skill. I do like the concept that you’re offering, however from what I see from this challenge is that it is not suitable for a beginner who needs to develop the basic skills first. So, is there anything that you can offer for people like me ? The absolute beginner…
tried sending a big ong message yesterday but it wouldn’t go
so baseickly it goes
hard for me years of trying and time to fit it in
hopefully i’m going to stick with you once i’ve got round these licks somehow and get consistent yesterday i found hard very hard i’ll try today’s later when back home
great very slow
trying to earn for years
I have an old 6 string acoustic that my kids and grandkids have banged around for many years how do I tune it so I can start using it? Also should I buy a pick? Thanks
I must agree too much talking turns into blah blah blah. I didn’t know what fret you were on because you did not say and I could not tell from looking at your fingers. Also, hammer on does not work as i am using an electric guitar without a amp. I agree this is very challenging for a total beginner. The tabs made it a little easier to see what you were doing, but again the hammer on threw me off and i gave up.
Hi From Greenwood, BC Canada. I started playing guitar in my teens because I was going to be a Rock Star…LOL. I played regularly, coffee houses, campfires, etc, up until about 20 years ago when I started concentrating on my voice and it was recommended I didn’t try to do both sing and play at the same time. Since then life has got in the way of doing both, though I have continued singing in local musical theatre programs. I must say I have truly missed my old guitar. I had to re-string my guitar for this and today’s lesson definitely challenged the fingers. Way more than 10 mins went by before I realized it. Definitely different than the lesson I sat through in my teens. I’m 64 now and just hoping this stirs up my desire to play again.
Hi Tony, I started gutar over 35 years ago when I quit smoking, never stuck. Tried every thing under the sun, online and in person. I retired two weeks ago and hoping your method helps as your philosophy hit home for me. Day one and my finger tips hurt. I struggled with timing and changes but the take away is, Im not getting discouraged
Paul
I’ve been intermittently trying to learn how to play while watching videos and using apps for years, but I never stick to it.
You talk too much and too fast.
Slow down.
I am not totally new but have lots to learn.
What if someone didn’t know what a hammer on is, for example, or what the notes are?
Very challenging for a total beginner.
Thanks though.
You’re very encouraging and positive.
I picked my old guitar up for the first time since the middle ’70’s a few weeks ago and started with no callouses and just now getting where I can play a few chords clearly. I’m 71 years old and my fingers don’t move like they did 50 years ago!
I am new to guitar and I have a very hard time having one hand doing one thing and the other doing something totally different. I also have a very hard time keeping my fingers on just one string at a time on the frets so the string that is supposed to be open is not actually open and sounds terrible.
new to guitar
Hey, Tony I’m a disabled veteran who just retired and I’ve tried taking lessons online a couple of times since I live in the boonies now-with a 100% fail rate because they just wanted me to learn to hold the guitar right and do this practice technique and draw it out so they can get paid. Today was frustrating at first but I slowed it down and finally got the picking pattern down because my picking skills are very beginner cuz I don’t use a pick when I’m just playing through the chords I’ve learned to just thumb on the down strokes and using the 3 and 4 fingers on the upstroke.
So I’ve saved some of your lessons for blues riffs on YouTube and that is my main objective to be able to play the blues and Learn a song from beginning to end other than jingle bells which ain’t very bluesy. So thanks for breaking it down enough that I can learn something I can use to help get through this wall I have been stuck on of not progressing
Wow, no way am I going to be able to follow this guy…definitely not for beginners…requires players to know and be fluent with the entire keyboard…needs a much clearer demonstration of where the fingers go…oh well… was worth a try.
new
I’m 70 years young and been trying to learn guitar for 5 years. I’ve learned a few songs, pentatonic scales, and a couple of modes. I also dabble with triads. I can play most major, minor, seventh, major 7th and min 7th open chords. I have failed at barre chords. Fast chord changes are a challenge, depending on the chords involved. I am here trying to improve technique, as well as increase my song selection. I also want to bring some joy and feeling of accomplishment into my playing.
hello tony, Let me start by saying i thought i was to old, I 66 years old now and still trying to learn to play the guitar so i finally took the leap and decided to try your way of learning, I’ve been watching your stuff for well over a year now and your comments in and about your TAC program and why to take it sounded like it was directed at me. I have been trying to learn guitar for 5 years and nothing seemed to stick, I have tried several methods, personal lessons with a teacher, you tube videos, books, tapes etc but it doesn’t stick. I can play several of the basic chords, hate the barr chords, and have a fairly good understanding of music theory but my problem is chord transition and keeping rhythm in a strum pattern. tried to learn the strum pattern for horse with no name and have trouble with it, been at it for months. So here i am at the 5 day challenge with a lot of hope and determination once again. I feel i need the daily routine of something specific with an overall goal in mind. My goal is to learn rhythm as well as fingerpicking. there is so many styles i like a little of each so if this works as well as i hope i will sign up for the TAC program. Thank you for your time and talent in helping others like me. Wish i could tell you all this in person but this will have to do. I truly hope that any responses i get back, at least the first one here, will be from you and not a staff member, I am sure you have hundreds though that hope the same.
I dabbled 28 years ago and stopped because of work. I’m now 69 and want to have another go. My finger nails need cutting, but got my fingers in the right places and at the right timing – eventually. A little slow but I did it.
I am coming back after years but was getting lost with to go.
I’m stuck and I don’t know why. Maybe I’m tired of playing alone and not being challenged. Same old same old
When I press down on the second fret it kills the sound. I’ve tried several times, moving my finger a bit back then forward, I don’t know what is wrong. I watched the vid and you pluck the E major once with your finger on one fret and without plucking [ or whatever it’s called] again, you place another finger on the next fret closer to the bridge this results in a new note, but when I do this it kills the sound. WHY? I’ve ordered some feeler gauges etc. and I’ll have a sus of the height of the action. ANY:) insight would be appreciated. ARRR, LOL!
I listened and tried without much success. I feel confused, and hope it will improve with tomorrow’s challenge.
I’ve been dabbling off and on for some time, and had some formal lessons as a kid. I really want to play really well, but I need help with technique. I came across your challenge and accepted. I’m finding with day 1, I really need to reach with my fingers between frets, and not arching well to stay off the lower string. Getting there, I have my moments.
Haven’t played in a few year but want to get back into it. I wasn’t progressing and felt frustrated. Giving it anoher shot. Having a hard time geting the open string to ring out. My fretted finger is blocking it from ringing out
Thanks for this. Getting back into guitar after a few years away. I lost any technique I once had. My first attempt at this challenge was awful. My hammer ons were pathetic and I couldn’t get my head around the pattern. My second attempt was even worse. I forced myself to work thru it and by attempt 10 I can make it all the way to the end. It’s not smooth or rhythmic but it’s something. Going to keep at it. I’m glad the first lesson is a bit challenging and not ‘here’s an a-minor chord.’
Sorry, but I am a day behind, Also, I am a little slow and not striking the strings hard enough…or so I feel.
Brand new. I’ve always wanted to play music but get frustrated easily in progress
I watched How to hold a pick, but do you have a vid on How to hold a Guitar???. Can’t find one
So I prepared and planned all weekend for today’s start, after supper, my wife wanted to watch some TV with me so I did and the next thing I realize is its 1am and I just woke up! I realized the guitar was next door in my office, so I went and retrieved the guitar, came back and started the challenge, first I couldn’t get the sound to work. Lol after restarting the computer, it cleared up that problem. I went through the lesson but at 1x speed it was so fast I didn’t learn a thing, so I went back through it a second time. This time I turned you down to .5 speed, that was helpful. So, my small wins for today: 1. I woke up before daylight, so I could say I showed up on day 1, although technically after 1 am it was Tuesday already. 2.Got the sound back to working on my computer. 3. At .5 speed I was actually able to follow a little bit the 2nd go round. I noticed you say something about the sound being wonky you might need to tune your guitar. Should we start there? because I am so green at the guitar that I don’t even know how to tune the guitar.
Sincerely,
JD